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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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DRUGS AND NARCOTICS
Drugs and narcotics occupy a small area in the district. Tobacco and betel-leaves (nagvel pan) are the only varieties in this group grown in the district. The following table gives the tahsil-wise area and outturn of drugs and narcotics in the district for the years 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970-71 and 1971-72.
TABLE No. 14
Area and Outturn of Drugs and Narcotics in Akola District for the years 1961-62, 1963-66, 1970-71 and 1971-72
(Area in hectares)
|
Tahsil |
Year |
Area |
Outturn of Tobacco (in M. Tonnes) |
|
Tobacco |
Betel-leaves |
Total Drugs and Narcotics |
|
Akola, |
1961-62 |
1 |
— |
1 |
1 | 1965-66 |
1 |
— |
1 |
— |
1970-71 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1971-72 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Akot |
1961-62 |
— |
109 |
109 |
— |
1965-66 |
— |
111 |
111 |
— |
1970-71 |
— |
— |
77 |
— |
1971-72 |
— |
— |
85 |
- |
|
Balapur |
1961-62 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1965-66 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1970-71 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1971-72 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Washim |
1961-62 |
1 |
19 |
20 |
1 |
1965-66 |
1 |
18 |
18 |
— |
1970-71 |
— |
— |
7 |
— |
1971-72 |
— |
— |
12 |
— |
|
Mangrulpir |
1961-62 |
6 |
— |
6 |
3 |
1965-66 |
2 |
— |
2 |
— |
1970-71 |
1 |
— |
1 |
— |
1971-72 |
2 |
— |
2 |
— |
|
Murtizapur |
1961-62 |
1 |
— |
1 |
— |
1965-66 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1970-71 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1971-72 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
District Total |
1961-62 |
9 |
128 |
137 |
6 |
1965-66 |
4 |
129 |
132 |
— |
1970-71 |
— |
— |
85 |
— |
1971-72 |
— |
— |
99 |
— |
Tobacco: Tobacco (tambakhu) crop thrives well in red, sandy loams and rich alluvial soils. Dry climate and low rainfall are suitable for the good growth of the crop. The seed is sown in the specially prepared seed-beds in the month of June and the seedlings are transplanted in August-September. It is done only when the seedlings have four leaves and are about four inches in height The crop requires a considerable amount of manuring. The crop matures within five months. Harvesting is done in February-March. After harvesting leaves are dried in the sun for a week. A decoction of hot spices like lavang, ale, etc., is spread on the leaves which are kept under a heap of soil for some days. In 1967-68 only 19 acres of land was under the cultivation of this crop.
Betel leaves : Betel leaf (vidyache pan, nagvel pan) is one of the garden crop which occupied a very small area of the district. The betel-leaves are grown mainly in the Akot and Washim tahsils. The betel-vines are supported by numerous trees and plants such as shevri, pangara and shevga. The vines are planted in October with cuttings obtained from the best shoots of older plants. The leaves are ripe for picking after a period of about two years The vines maintained properly yield for nearly twenty to thirty years.
Besides medicinal use, betel-leaves are chewed with betel nuts, lime and sometimes with tobacco.
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